Its Still Looking like Arthur Roche for Westminster Time for a Reverse Ferret, Damian Thompson, Telegraph, March 29, 2009

It's Still Looking like Arthur Roche for Westminster. Time for a Reverse Ferret?

By Damian Thompson
Telegraph
March 29, 2009

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/damian_thompson/blog/2009/03/29/its_still_looking_like_arthur_roche_for_westminster_time_for_a_reverse_ferret

Quite possibly the last time you will see this picture

Yet another source rings me and tells me (managing to contain his joy) that he thinks Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds has got Westminster. We'll see, but that's where I'd put my money now, no doubt about it.

American readers of this blog, and possibly some British ones too, won't be familiar with the phrase "reverse ferret", defined as "a term used in the British newspaper industry to denote a sudden and complete about-face on an issue". If Holy Smoke were to do one, it might read, Private Eye-style:

Bishop Arthur Roche: An Apology

We are sorry that, in reporting the actions of Bishop Arthur Roche, we inadvertently gave the impression that he was a power-crazed, Cinnabon-scoffing former ice skater who padlocks thriving parishes and sits plotting his next career move from his Gormenghast-style headquarters in Hinsley Hall. We now realise that, in the light of his appointment to Westminster, Bishop Roche is a cheerful, decisive, bluff but holy Yorkshireman who is orthodox in his teaching and loved by his flock. We are very sorry if we gave the wrong impression.

Hmm. I don't think readers of this blog from Pontefract would be very impressed by that, do you? And nor would certain traditionalists who were horrified by Bishop Roche's guidelines for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum, which is largely self-implementing and doesn't require heavy-handed monitoring by diocesan HQ.

On the other hand, if Bishop Roche does get Westminster, who will have appointed him? Oh, we know who exactly who has lobbied for him (and shouldn't have, in my opinion); but that's not the same thing.

If a Magic Circle bishop is appointed to Westminster, that is the wish of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. We can get as cross as we like about the self-perpetuating oligarchy of the Bishops' Conference, but the truth is that at no stage did the opponents of the old boy network unite behind an independent-minded conservative. Admittedly, the Magic Circle didn't stick to one candidate, but - so far as I can work out - it did transfer its allegiance from one bishop to another in a fairly orderly fashion.

Someone once said that the motto of the Vatican was: "The wrong man for the job." And, looking at successive appointments to English dioceses, I can only concur. But perhaps the motto also draws attention to the fact that - as in the secular world - every appointment is going to be a mistake in someone's eyes.

There comes a point - and we're reaching it now - when the really difficult aspect of being a Catholic kicks in. The "wrong" man is appointed by the Holy Father, or by the Holy Spirit, and you have to draw a line under the past. Look what an utter wally Bobbie Mickens made of himself by blubbing at the announcement of Joseph Ratzinger's election.

I don't think Arthur Roche is the right man for the job. (No, really, Damian?) I'm glad that this blog drew attention to the shabby treatment of Catholics in Pontefract deaney, who deserved far, far better of their diocesan bishop. I could go on - and I have in the past, God knows. But, if he gets Westminster, he gets it, and... who can tell? So often, in the Church as well as politics, people with dodgy track records perform wonders, while the messianic figure screws up. (I'm searching for an American analogy here, but I can't think of one.)

+Arthur has one thing going for him: he's been chairman of ICEL, which means he should be able to push through the literal but beautiful translation of the Ordinary Form next year. The Tabletistas are getting ready to cause some serious trouble on that front, but I don't fancy their chances if they have to mess with Bishop Arthur.

OK, the blood-crazed ferret has reversed enough for one day. I'd rather see the job go to Bishop Bernard Longley or Archbishop Vincent Nichols. But it's up to the Holy Father now. Catholics should pray that he is guided by the Spirit.